Bengaluru: Former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has hit back at Waris Pathan, the AIMIM member who made a controversial remark against Hindus. 

Fadnavis said, "We condemn Waris Pathan's statement. He should keep in mind that there are more than 100 crore Hindus in this country and therefore minorities are safe and they are free. Muslim nations do not give such freedom to their minorities. Hindu society is tolerant, but do not think they are weak. He should tender an unconditional apology and if he doesn't then strict action must be taken by the state government."

 

 

While addressing a gathering, in Gulbarga of Karnataka, Waris Pathan had said, “We have taken Azadi and that which is not given, must be snatched. They are saying that we have sent our sisters ahead (Shaheen bagh). Only our tigresses have come out and you are sweating. Just understand if all of us come together then what will happen? We are 15 crores, but we are tough on the 100 crores, remember that."  

An FIR has been filed against Waris Pathan in Gulbarga under section 117 (Abetting commission of offence by the public or by more than ten persons), section 153 (provocation with intent to cause riot) and Section 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, etc) of Indian Penal Code. The complaint has been filed by a private lawyer.

Such statements by AIMIM members is not new. 

Earlier in 2012, Akbaruddin Owaisi, had made a similar remark. Again in 2019, he had made a remark on similar lines. 

He had said, "No person from RSS can even touch our hair and remember, remember, the world tries to scare the person who gets scared. And world fears the person who knows how to instill fear why do they hate Akbaruddin Owaisi? Why? A single blow of a blacksmith is equal to a hundred blows of a goldsmith. They (RSS) haven't yet recovered from the '15 minute' blow."